Community demands resignation of Alum Rock school board members

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — Students, parents and educators showed up to the Alum Rock school board Thursday night, demanding transparency and accountability — or resignation.

“Coming from a child, a new teenager, the way you two act is not okay,” said Isabella, an Alum Rock School District student. “Step up your game for this community.”

“This is really ridiculous and unacceptable,” said Claudia, an Alum Rock School District parent. “If you don’t understand how to properly manage money then we ask that you no longer represent us.”

“You’ve broken the public’s trust and when trust is broken the public has the right and the responsibility to take action,” said Alum Rock School District teacher Nerelyn Hernandez. “That’s why tonight I’m calling for a recall for any board member who put personal gains before our students.”

San Jose community members rallied outside the board meeting over recent allegations against the district, which have led to an audit by the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

Officials are looking to see if the district misappropriated funds and if board members reimbursed themselves inappropriately. The investigation is part of an effort to address a $20 million budget deficit. This school year, the board closed and consolidated schools.

But before heading into the new school year, the board voted unanimously to fire its new superintendent earlier this month — marking their second leadership change in just over a year.

“And the community has no idea why he was let go,” said parent Chrystine Villarreal. “We deserve to know why we spent all that money finding him, investing in him, getting to know him and then letting him go and him picking up an almost $350k check.”

“We are talking about $700 to 800k spent in the last year in removing superintendents in the last year and a half,” said parent Delia Oseguera Navarro. “How were they able to find the money to do that but not find the money to keep some of these schools open.”

After public comment, the board went into closed session for a little over two hours and came back announcing that acting superintendent Sandra Garcia will now serve as interim superintendent.

A final report with the audit’s findings will eventually be discussed at a public meeting. Garcia says she hopes it will only strengthen trust within the community.